Prof. Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, decorated twenty-three young scientists with the Otto Wichterle Award in Lanna Villa in Prague on Wednesday, June 19, 2019. One of the Award holders was  Mgr. Filip Tomek, PhD., a research scientist of the Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

The last issue of the Academic Bulletin journal published for public relations of the Czech Academy of Sciences, No. 05/2019, features an interview with Tomáš Navrátil (in Czech). It is aimed at research of the experimental Lesní potok catchment in the Voděrady beechstands. This interview covers various aspects of small catchment monitoring and biogeochemical research in general.

For the first time in its history, the Institute of Geology participated in the annual Science Fair held at the PVA EXPO Exhibition Center in Prague-Letňany in early June. This event presented over 100 displays from 54 institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences and many other institutions and companies. According to the organizers, the fair was visited by approximately 30,000 during the 3 days. It was a pleasure to see that the stand of the Institute of Geology was highly attended. Its main attractions included an exposition of minerals and fossils, presentations on mercury research in tree trunks and information on the latest research on moldavites, sandstone weathering forms, accumulation of heavy metals in mushrooms. Photographs from discoveries of large caves were meeting a lot of interest. The greatest success, however, was microscopy of fossils together with a geo-quiz after the completion of which visitors could keep a mineral sample of their choice. The quiz was completed (either individually or in a group) by more than 250 visitors of all ages. For additional details on the Fair click here.

Radek Mikuláš convened the 15th International Ichnofabric Workshop to Prague (April 27 – May 5, 2019). Thirty-two specialists from over the world presented recent contributions from the mainstream branch of ichnology, e.g., ichnofabrics of terrestrial systems. A special discussion block was devoted to the use of computed tomography in the study of ichnofabric. Despite severe health complications of the convenor, the workshop was held at the scheduled time and followed the previously announced plan of excursions. In result, most of the sites known to a few people only through publications were now visited and evaluated directly by the top ichnologists. See Web page and Abstracts & Guidebook.